Manifold envelope assembly

ABSTRACT

A manifold assembly comprising a plurality of series-connected envelopes, each having front and back panels with insert material within each envelope, means for securing the panels together to form an envelope pocket for the insert material, means for opening the envelope, one marginal edge of the insert material being attached to the panels by means of spaced connecting ties lying parallel to the direction of extraction of the insert material during the opening of the envelope.

Unite States Patent 1191 1111 3,841,549 Wailieman Oct. 15, 1974 MANIFOLD ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-William 1. Price [75] Inventor. I{I l/13mm R. Wakeman, Ransomville, Assistant Examiner stephen P Garbe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watson, Cole, Grindle & [73] Assignee: Moore Business Forms, line, Watson Niagara Falls, NY. [22] Filed: Sept. 6, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT 2 App] 2 24 A manifold assembly comprising a plurality of seriesconnected envelopes, each having from and back panels with insert material within each envelope, means U-S- Clf i g th p l t g th t f an l p [51] hit. Cl 365d 27/10 pocket for the insert material, means for Opening the [58] Flelld of Search 229/69, 85; 206/58 envelope, one marginal edge of the insert matfirial being attached to the panels by means of spaced con- [56] Refermces cued necting ties lying parallel to the direction of extraction U ITED S T S PA S of the insert material during the opening of the envel,l70,589 2/1916 Wheeler 206/58 p l,3l6,04l 9/1919 Johnson 206/58 1 Cl 6 D F. 3,554,438 1 1971 Van Malderghem 229/69 l MANIFOLD ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to envelope and business form manifolding assemblies and more particularly to a means for connecting the inserts within each envelope of the assembly for easier extraction of the inserts.

A correspondence assembly is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,554,438, dated Jan. 12, 1971, and commonly owned herewith, wherein the insert sheets are attached to the outer envelope panels by means of connecting ties at one marginal edge of the insert, the opposite and side edges of the insert being free of the envelope. These ties are formed along a line of perforations disposed perpendicularly with respect to the direction of insert extraction from the envelope. Weak ties are defined by this line of perforations and are broken during envelope extraction.

A principal object of the present invention is therefore to improve upon these connecting ties for the insert sheets so as to permit the insert sheets to be freed more easily during envelope opening than was heretofore made possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide an envelope manifold assembly wherein the connecting means for the insert sheets are defined by a pair of spaced connecting ties, each lying parallel to the direction of envelope extraction, thereby facilitating an easier extracting operation for the insert sheets.

Another object is to provide such connecting ties for the insert sheets which are located at one marginal edge of the insert sheets with this marginal edge being defined by an elongated slot adjacent and inwardly of which are also provided slots opening into each marginal edge of the insert sheet which is adjacent this one marginal edge, thereby defining the spaced parallel connecting ties.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary prospective view of a continuous form stationary assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a typical envelope assembly taken along the line 22 of FIG. I, the feed bands being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an insert sheet showing the insert sheet in relation to the back panel of the envelope assembly and the connecting ties of the insert in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary plan view of the insert sheet showing the connecting ties produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 except that the insert sheet is shown after having been freed from the envelope assembly during extraction of the insert and FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the insert sheet showing another embodiment of the connecting ties thereof.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views there is shown an envelope manifold assembly in FIG. 1 which includes a plurality of series-connected envelope assemblies 10 forming a one-wide manifold assembly with each envelope connected along transverse line of weakening 11. It

should be also noted, however, that two or other multiwide assemblies may be similarly formed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Each envelope assembly 10 is constructed of a front panel 12 and a back panel 13 secured together as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by means of lines 14 of stream paste thereby defining an envelope pocket for insert material such as sheets 15, 16. Feed bands 17 are provided along opposite ends of each envelope along the manifold assembly as shown in FIG. 1 and, by reason of feed holes 18 in each of the bands, the envelope manifold assembly may be fed through a business machine for appropriate imprinting.

Feed bands 17 are shown removed from the envelope assembly in FIGS. 2 and 3 along their respective lines of weakening for purposes of clarity. Each envelope assembly 10 is open along a tear line 19 provided in panels I2, 13 in precisely the same manner as described in the aforementioned commonly-owned patent, i.e., the envelope is grasped at one end over the thumb notch 21 and at the opposite end thereof so that, when pulled in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2, insert sheets 15 and 16 will be freed and extracted from the envelope assembly.

Each of the insert sheets 15 and 16 is connected to the envelope panels for registration therewith by means of spaced connecting ties 22 (see FIG. 4). Each of these connecting ties are at one marginal edge 23 of the insert sheet which is defined by an elongated closed slot 24 lying parallel to tear line 19 and opposite the free end 25 of the insert which extends slightly outwardly of tear line 19 so that it may be grasped for extraction of the inserts in the manner as described above. Each of the spaced connecting ties 22 is defined by an openended slot 26 each opening into a marginal edge 27 of insert 15 which are respectively adjacent marginal edge 23 thereof. Also, each of these slots 26 is located slightly inwardly of slot 24 and the slots 26 extend toward one another so that their closed ends respectively overlap slightly with the opposite closed ends of slot 24 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Those portions of the insert sheet lying between each slot 26 and slot 24! is identified in FIGS. 4 and 5 as connecting ties 22.

Insert sheet 16 is constructed in a manner similar to that described for insert sheet 15 and either one or both of these insert sheets may be in the form of a return envelope or the like.

Insert sheets l5, 16 are freed during opening of the envelopeassembly 10 as described above so that the insert sheets are extracted from the envelope pocket as the envelope is open along tear lines 19 and connecting ties 22 are broken as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in such Figure, each connecting tie 22 is broken in a manner whereby edge 28 thereof lies substantially parallel to the direction of insert extraction, shown by the arrow in FIG. 5. By reason of these connecting ties being formed by that portion of the insert sheet lying between closely adjacent slots 26 and 24, each connecting tie is broken as at 28 after each has been stressed and torn gradually during insert extraction. Connecting ties 22 are therefore actually torn apart during insert extraction as compared to the ties formed by the tear lines 28 of the perforations of the US. Pat. No. 3,554,438 which must be pulled apart during insert extraction since these ties lie along a line substantially perpendicular to the direction of insert extraction. The improved connecting ties for the insert sheets in accordance with the present invention therefore permit the insert to be more easily extracted from the'envelope assembly since only a pair of connecting ties are required which are each torn gradually during insert extraction rather than being separated by breaking as in the prior art designs. Also, the slight overlap of each slot 26 with slot 24 permits sheet to be torn away from stub portion 31, as shown in FIG. 5, with the major portion of each tie 22 remaining on stub 31.

Another embodiment of the connecting ties 22 for each insert is shown in FIG. 6 for insert 15a wherein elongated slot 24 is the same as that described for insert 15 above although slots 29, which correspond to slots 26 of the FIG. 4 embodiment, are slightly different. Here, each of the slots 29 opens into a marginal edge 27a, the slots 29 being arcuately shaped with their closed ends slightly overlapping the respective closed ends of slot 24. Each connecting tie 22 is thereby formed similarly as in FIG. 4 between each overlapping slot 29 and slot 24. Slots 29 are arcuately shaped so as to insure that each of the connecting ties will gradually tear along an edge 28 which lies nearest the respective closed ends of each slot 29 whereby most of the torn connecting tie will remain with stub portion 31a of the insert 15a. Accordingly, the ultimate recipient of the envelope assembly 10, after extracting the insert sheets, will not be left with an insert sheet having unsightly connecting ties remaining thereon. Instead, the connecting ties will remain with the stub element 31a of the FIG. 6 embodiment after insert extraction. Likewise, each connecting tie 22 will remain substantially with the stub portion 31 of insert sheet 15 shown in FIG. 5 to some degree as well.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a simple, economical and highly effective manner of connecting insert sheets for registration within a stuffed, sealed envelope assembly has been devised to permit the connecting ties thereby formed to be gradually torn upon insert extraction. The envelope is opened and the insert freed from the envelope in a gradual manner without the need of excessive opening force and, by reason of arcuate slots described with reference to FIG. 6, the connecting ties are assured of remaining with the stub portion of each sheet upon extraction.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A manifolding assembly, comprising a plurality of envelopes series-connected and separable along transverse lines of weakening provided thereon, each envelope comprising front and back panels with insert material within each envelope, means securing said panels together to form an envelope pocket for said insert material, means for opening the envelope pocket, said insert material including at least one insert sheet connectedat one marginal edge thereof to said panels, a first elongated, closed slot provided in said sheet thereby defining said one marginal edge, second slots spaced slightly inwardly of and closely adjacent said first slot, said second slots each slightly overlapping the opposite ends of said first slot and each opening into marginal edges of said sheet lying adjacent said one marginal edge, said second slots curving inwardly toward said first slot from said marginal edges and terminating closely adjacent said first slot, whereby the spacings between each said second slot and said first slot define connecting ties gradually decreasing in width from the ends of said first slot toward the closed ends of said second slots, said ties lying parallel to the direction of envelope extraction through said opening means, whereby said ties are capable of flexing before being gradually broken at said closed ends of said second slots during envelope extraction to free said insert sheet from said envelope, said second slots defining rounded corners at said one marginal edge of said sheet upon extraction thereof.

* l l k 

1. A manifolding assembly, comprising a plurality of envelopes series-connected and separable along transverse lines of weakening provided thereon, each envelope comprising front and back panels with insert material within each envelope, means securing said panels together to form an envelope pocket for said insert material, means for opening the envelope pocket, said insert material including at least one insert sheet connected at one marginal edge thereof to said panels, a first elongated, closed slot provided in said sheet thereby defining said one marginal edge, second slots spaced slightly inwardly of and closely adjacent said first slot, said second slots each slightly overlapping the opposite ends of said first slot and each opening into marginal edges of said sheet lying adjacent said one marginal edge, said second slots curving inwardly toward said first slot from said marginal edges and terminating closely adjacent said first slot, whereby the spacings between each said second slot and said first slot define connecting ties gradually decreasing in width from the ends of said first slot toward the closed ends of said second slots, said ties lying parallel to the direction of envelope extraction through said opening means, whereby said ties are capable of flexing before being gradually broken at said closed ends of said second slots during envelope extraction to free said insert sheet from said envelope, said second slots defining rounded corners at said one marginal edge of said sheet upon extraction thereof. 